For up to the minute news, stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

Cruise News - March 8, 2010

Don't forget to check out CruisePage.com, the Internet's largest cruise database. With over 11,000 cruise itineraries and over 300 ship profiles, CruisePage.com is the perfect tool to help you find and book the perfect cruise.

At the time of the incident, the ship was passing through a series of 30 ft high waves, when the third wave in the series crashed up against the windows. As a result of the force of the water, several of the windows shattered and tons of water crashed into the lounge. The male passengers who died, a German and an Italian, were reportedly sitting in the forward part of the lounge and were struck by broken glass and furniture.

The incident was captured on video tape by a fellow passenger. The tape shows a wall of water exploding into the lounge as stunned passengers run for cover. The water rushes out of the lounge as crew members attempt to aid the injured. A total of 14 passengers were treated for injuries and several were hospitalized after the ship reached port.

Louis Majesty was sailing to Genoa on a 12-day Mediterranean cruise at the time of the incident and was carrying 1,350 passengers and 580 crew members. After the wave struck, the ship was diverted to Barcelona so the injured passengers could receive medical treatment and the ship could be repaired.

Renowned Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti, adult contemporary/soft rock/pop artist, performed on stage during the christening while Italian screen legend and icon Sophia Loren, participated in the ribbon cutting as the godmother of her eighth MSC ship.

MSC Magnifica combines the intimacy of her three Musica Class sister vessels -- MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Poesia -- with the state-of-the-art facilities and comfort of the company's larger flagships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia.

A magrodome or retractable roof covers the pool, La Grotta Azzurra, making it possible to enjoy one of the four pools throughout the year regardless of the weather. The Il Bar del Sole area on the top deck boasts its own whirlpools and solarium.

The ship's 16 bars and lounges, four restaurants, and a large new buffet area -- Sahara -- will serve Italian and international cuisine; an a la carte restaurant, L'Oasi, will provide fine dining in an exotic Moroccan atmosphere.

Culinary masterpieces by Mauro Uliassi, the Michelin Star Chef, recipient of three prized Gambero Rosso forks, and winner of the prestigious Kungsfenan Award for the best seafood, are available in the L'Oasi restaurant; soon, they'll be offered in all of MSC Cruises' Musica Class a la carte restaurants.

There's even a Tiger bar, themed after the striped feline, serving up cocktails and musical acts. Other entertainment features on board include a high-tech 4D cinema, mini-bowling alley and a billiard table in the L'Olimpiade sports bar. L'Olimpiade is the first sports bar featured in the Musica class of ships, and its theme is inspired by the Olympics.

Relaxation opportunities await guests in the MSC Aurea Spa wellness center for massages, facials, and other specialty spa treatments in a resort-standard setting. Two treatments created just for MSC and are being offered on the MSC Magnifica -- Aurea Papaveris, a 60-minute slimming and cellulite treatment, and a Himalayan massage.

MSC Magnifica sails 7-night Eastern Mediterranean itineraries departing Venice, Italy and calling at Bari, Italy; Katakolon (Olympia) Greece; Izmir, Turkey; Istanbul, Turkey; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

To celebrate the occasion, more than 50 US and UK travel agents, Oceania Cruises past guests and journalists were invited to don hard hats and preview Marina. Guests even had the chance to partake in the first meal served in "Jacques" -- the eponymous restaurant of Master Chef Jacques Pepin -- which is one of six, open-seating gourmet restaurants on the new vessels.

The reaction was overwhelmingly positive. "They have done everything right, Marina is already awesome, and will be fabulous," according to past guests, Don and Betsy Horner. Travel agents were equally astounded. "Frank, Bob and the rest of the team have personally selected unique interior design elements down to the smallest detail -- all making the vision of Oceania Cruises come alive," stated Terri Burke of Cruise Planners.

Oceania Cruises' Marina and Riviera will offer 629 elegantly appointed and custom-crafted accommodations that are among the largest at sea, ranging from 174 to a palatial 2,000+ square feet. Their top suites, destined to set new industry standards, will feature furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home and designs by Dakota Jackson and Tocar New York.

The sister ships will also feature a Lalique-designed grand lobby, 10 dining venues and several elegant bars and lounges. Facilities will include a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, innovative Bon Appetit Culinary Center, swimming pool and hot tubs.

During the festivities, a bottle of prosecco wine was smashed on the hull of Marina by the shipyard "madrina" in a nod to Italian maritime tradition. The official naming ceremony for Marina will take place in Miami; her godmother has not yet been announced.

In her inaugural year, Marina will cross the Atlantic, transit the Panama Canal twice, visit ports in Mexico, as well as Los Angeles and San Francisco, and call at a host of Caribbean island gems, sailing round-trip from Miami. Marina will sail along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and call at Bermuda before repositioning to Europe for summer 2011.

The third in Celebrity Cruises' stylish, $3.7-billion Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity Eclipse showed off her sleek profile Sunday as she emerged for the first time from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Undocking began around 7.30 a.m. By 9.30 a.m. the Celebrity Eclipse was moored at the outfitting pier. Starting around 1 p.m., various tests and trials were conducted in the harbour. The ship was again moored at the pier around 5 p.m. With the ship being berthed, the remaining interior finishing work as well as tests and trials will be carried out in the next two weeks.

Once the undocking is completed, the first crew members will move into their quarters on board. On 12/13 March 2010 the Celebrity Eclipse will be conveyed down the river Ems to her trials port in Eemshaven (Netherlands).

Celebrity Eclipse will enter service April 26 and, following two "short break" cruises, will offer a series of Canary Islands, Scandinavia/Russia and Spanish Mediterranean sailings roundtrip from Southampton, England. The new vessel will present Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Miami beginning in November.

This prediction comes from the Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation Micky Arison and appears in the fifth annual cruise report to be published by the UK brands of Carnival UK* in The Cruise Report 2010.

He said it will be partly stimulated by a much-increased range of cruises coming onto the market, including more short duration cruises from UK ports.

The report also contains the results of a major online consumer survey carried out for Carnival UK by a leading cruise retailer.

This attracted nearly 5,000 responses from frequent cruisers and revealed (among other findings highlighted in The Cruise Report) that more than a quarter would reduce other expenditure to ensure they could still afford their main cruise holiday.

And more than one in three would rather pay less than they would normally budget for a cruise than not book one at all.

Also, eight out of 10 prefer ships carrying at least 1,000 passengers with half voting for between 1,000 and 2,000 passengers as their ideal ship size. But just one in a hundred fancy cruising on a ship with more than 4,000 passengers and nearly a third prefer ships to have predominantly British passengers

In his report overview, Carnival UK CEO David Dingle revealed that, although 2009 was a tough year for the cruise industry, the company's brands found they could hold prices at a higher level than they had initially expected.

Further research revealed top choices for entertainers included Peter Kaye, Michael McIntyre, Michael Buble and Susan Boyle.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	36.94	+ 2.33%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	30.23	+ 6.59%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.48	- 15.91%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Between the time she left Cunard's service in 1968 and her arrival in Hong Kong in 1971, the Queen Elizabeth spent time in what is now one of the most popular ports in North America. Where was she laid up during this time?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
Prior to S.O.S. a different code was used as the International signal for distress. What was the code, what did it stand for, and what was the first large passenger ship to use it to request help?

Answer - The code is CQD; meaning Come Quick Distress. This was used by the liner RMS Titanic after she struck an iceberg in April of 1912.
courtesy of Patti Stasiak

Some additional facts about SOS - contrary to popular belief, SOS is not an abbreviation for anything (...including Save Our Ship or Save Our Souls). According to the 1918 Marconi Yearbook of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony "...it was adopted on account of its easy radiation and it unmistakable character." The first recorded use of the new SOS call by an American ship was in 1908 by the wireless operator of the ss Arapahoe after the ship lost a propeller. In 1912, wireless operator Jack Phillips first used the CQD call followed by Titanic's call letters MGY. Later, following second Radio Officer Harold Bride's suggestion, Phillips began interspersing SOS with the CQD call.

Cruise News - March 1, 2010

The three crew members were in their cabin which was located just above the water line where the ship hit the pier. The resulting gash in the side of the cruise ship caused water to rush into the cabin trapping the crew members. Costa Europa was carrying 1,500 passengers at the time of the incident and several were injured and taken to local hospitals but none of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

In a statement released by Costa, Costa Cruises Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi said "In reference to the accident that occurred this morning to the Costa Europa while berthing in Sharm El Sheik, I would like to express our great sorrow suffered by the families of the three crew members who tragically died. According to preliminary and ongoing investigations, bad weather conditions and unexpected wind caused the impact of the ship on the pier. I would like to clarify that all other passengers and crew members were not in danger. Moreover, I would like to sincerely thank all ship personnel for their swift reaction and professionalism in managing the accident. I would also like to express my deepest regret for the inconvenience of the interruption of the cruise to our guests who were on holiday. All guests have been disembarked, are safe, and are now being hosted in local hotels, where the organization for their return is in place."

Immediately following the incident ballast was shifted to the port side of the ship so that the damaged area on the starboard side would be lifted above the water line. Passengers were evacuated from the ship and put up in local hotels until arrangements could be made for their return home. Egyptian authorities have begun a formal investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

Costa Europa was on a 18-day cruise from Dubai to Savona

EBITDA in the fourth quarter improved to $37.4 million from $6.6 million and to $324.1 million from $228.1 million for the year. Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day decreased 14.3% in the fourth quarter and 17.4% for the year.
Net Yield for the quarter and full year decreased 4.2% and 7.7%, respectively.
Fleet renewal complete with the departure of Norwegian Majesty in October 2009.
Market eagerly anticipates delivery of Norwegian Epic in less than four months.

NCL said it continued its trend of improved year-over-year EBITDA performance and, despite a challenging operating environment in 2009, EBITDA grew 42% over 2008. "With 2009 posing one of the most challenging operating environments in history, I am extremely pleased that we have produced meaningful EBITDA growth," said Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. "The strategic initiatives revolving around revenue management and optimization, as well as the cost containment measures implemented throughout the year have contributed greatly to overcoming the macroeconomic challenges of this past year and position us well going forward."

Fourth Quarter Results - EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2009 improved to $37.4 million versus $6.6 million for the same period of 2008 (a 24% increase on an adjusted basis, to $41.6 million from $33.7 million). The significant improvement in EBITDA was achieved despite an 8.3% decline in Net Revenue in the quarter to $303.5 million in 2009 from $330.9 million in 2008. This decline resulted from a 4.2% decrease in Net Yield and a 4.2% decrease in Capacity Days. The decrease in Net Yield was primarily due to weakness experienced in passenger ticket pricing versus 2008 and was partially offset by an increase in Net Yield from onboard and other revenue. The decrease in Capacity Days resulted from the departures of Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Majesty from the Company's fleet in November 2008 and October 2009, respectively. Occupancy Percentage for the quarter increased to 106.0% compared to 101.2% in the prior year. Net loss for the quarter narrowed to $39.0 million on revenue of $401.7 million from a net loss of $211.0 million on revenue of $430.9 million in 2008.

Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day decreased 14.3% in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the same period of 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to an overall reduction in cruise operating expenses as well as lower general and administrative expense. These reductions were partially offset by higher fuel expense with fuel cost per metric ton of $476 in 2009 up from $435 in 2008.

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, was $37.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, including a write-off of deferred financing fees of $6.7 million in connection with a debt refinancing, compared to $35.1 million in 2008. Other income (expense) decreased to ($0.6) million in 2009 from ($13.1) million in 2008.

Full Year Results - EBITDA for the full year 2009 increased 42% to $324.1 million from $228.1 million in 2008 (a 16% improvement on an adjusted basis to $332.5 million from $286.0 million). The improvement was achieved despite a decline in Net Revenue of 12.4% resulting from a 7.7% decrease in Net Yield and a 5.1% decrease in Capacity Days. The decrease in Net Yield was primarily due to weakness in passenger ticket pricing versus 2008 and was partially offset by an increase in Net Yield from onboard and other revenue. The decrease in Capacity Days resulted from the departures of the Marco Polo, Norwegian Dream and Norwegian Majesty from the Company's fleet in March 2008, November 2008 and October 2009, respectively. Occupancy Percentage for 2009 increased to 109.4% compared to 106.8% in the prior year. Net income in 2009 was $67.2 million on revenue of $1.9 billion compared to a net loss of ($211.8) million on revenue of $2.1 billion in 2008.

Outlook and Updates - Year over year booking volume continues to be positive and occupancy levels for 2010 are tracking comparable to 2009's record levels. On a cumulative basis, 2010 pricing on the books is ahead of 2009 and Net Per Diems for passenger ticket revenue on recent booking activity is above prior year levels in all quarters. Additionally, the booking window continues to expand reflecting the increased demand for our product offering. "I see many positive factors that are driving improved cruise demand, all of which reinforce the unmatched value of a cruise vacation, and in particular the freedom and flexibility of a Norwegian Cruise Line Freestyle cruise," said Sheehan.

The departure of the 17-year old, 1,440-berth Norwegian Majesty marked the final milestone in the evolution of NCL's fleet to one comprised solely of purpose-built, Freestyle Cruising vessels. "We've been looking forward to this final step in our fleet renewal program," said Sheehan. "Norwegian now has an entirely young and modern fleet of vessels designed exclusively with our signature Freestyle Cruising in mind. In addition all eyes are on the upcoming launch of our newest and largest purpose-built Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic."

The Company recently announced a partnership with Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, to offer family entertainment and programming on board Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Jewel and will feature character meet and greets, interactive game shows, and more. In addition, the three year agreement includes annual Nickelodeon-themed cruises featuring Nickelodeon talent and continuous themed entertainment on board.

In addition to announcing Nickelodeon entertainment on board Norwegian Epic, set to debut in July 2010, the Company also announced a new concept and pricing for the innovative Studio staterooms. These staterooms will be offered to solo travelers without the single supplement that is customary for a single traveler in a double occupancy cabin. The staterooms, with 100 square feet of living space, will also have exclusive access to the Studio Lounge area.

"The offering of the Studios to solo travelers on board Norwegian Epic is just another example of Norwegian's great tradition of innovation at sea," said Sheehan. "Now solo travelers can experience all that Norwegian Epic has to offer, from world-class entertainment to an abundance of dining options, without requiring a single supplement. And the private key-card access Studio Lounge will allow Studio guests to meet and mingle in an area designed exclusively for them."

The brainchild of Celebrity's Vice President of Culinary Operations, Chef Jacques Van Staden, Qsine presents guests with an unexpected, modern approach to familiar dishes from around the world.

"Our guests love new and different dining experiences, and we've designed Qsine to deliver that in a big way," said Van Staden. "Qsine is designed to offer a globally-influenced blend of nostalgic and contemporary favorites, artfully presented with elements of surprise."

Van Staden says Qsine also will further validate Celebrity's leadership position in offering world-class dining experiences, as evidenced in the brand's stunningly designed, guest-inspired Solstice Class specialty restaurants including Tuscan Grille, Blu, Murano and Silk Harvest, not to mention the series of intimate venues on Celebrity's Millennium Class foursome.

Qsine's menu design alone - a large, backlit square filled with words and phrases designed to engage guests in the experience - implies that Qsine is an unusual place. And the cuisine makes it abundantly clear, with most of the selections so unique that nearly all of the dishes and plating have been designed exclusively for Celebrity.

Among the selections are spring rolls nestled in vertical springs, "Sushi Lollipops" (Nigiri sushi with soy center, wasabi mayonnaise and pickled ginger-radish salad), "Meatball Trilogy" (Kobe beef with cheddar and marinara sauce; veal with mushrooms and marsala sauce; and turkey with cranberry and sage gravy), "Chitinis" (Chinese selections served in martini glasses), "Tresviche" (tiger shrimp and bay scallops with lemon juice, tequila, cilantro, tomatoes and jalapeno oil), "Popcorn Fish & Chips" (Boddington's-battered codfish and chips served with malt vinegar or aioli), "Slider Party" (mini-grilled Kobe beef patties with aged Wisconsin cheddar served on brioche buns with "Qsine's original slider sauce" and garnishes), "Taco Royale" (Black Angus sirloin steak, homemade taco shells, caramelized onion-poblano, and do-it-yourself fresh guacamole, with a stone mortar and pestle), and "Lava Crab" (Alaskan King crab, sweet yellow corn and scallions with Hataifi and Old Bay sauce, served in glasses over heated red stones).

Libations to accompany the cuisine range from approximately 100 varieties of primarily organic, contemporary wines, to a vast array of creative cocktails.

And, for the first time on a Celebrity ship - just one week after announcing the hip, new "Celebrity iLounge" - Celebrity has designed a means for guests to capitalize on technology to easily review and order wines via the latest touch-screen devices.

Even the uniforms of the wait staff illustrate the venue's unique nature. Designed by Van Staden and custom-made exclusively for Celebrity, the jackets are decidedly asymmetrical and sport square buttons, and are intended to illustrate that the wait staff also are considered chefs, offering guests a highly interactive and personalized dining experience.

Capping the Qsine experience is a series of desserts whose menu is as sweet and surprising as its selections: A hinged, twistable cube presents options ranging from candied apples to popcorn to individual cookie jars.

"Qsine is designed to surprise our guests with uniquely unordinary dishes, innovative presentations and engaging experiences," said Van Staden. "It's designed to allow them to share with each other, sample several different selections, and simply experience both new and favorite foods in an entirely fun and unexpected way."

Qsine will be open nightly on Celebrity Eclipse from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., for a cover charge of $30 per person. There are no age restrictions for dining in Qsine, and the dress code is smart casual and above.

Robert Howie, Hotel Manager
Scottish-born Robert Howie brings almost 25 years of experience - on land and at sea - to his new post as Hotel Manager aboard Queen Elizabeth. He held the position of Food and Beverage Manager aboard Queen Mary 2 in the ocean liner's inaugural year and was later promoted to the prestigious position of Hotel Manager on Cunard's flagship in 2005. Howie was also the first Hotel Manager onboard Queen Victoria when she entered service in December 2007.

As Hotel Manager, Howie is in charge of all onboard operations: housekeeping, food and beverage, entertainment and human resources. Prior to joining Cunard, he served in senior managerial food and beverage positions for Princess Cruises - both shoreside and onboard - since 1990.

Alastair Greener, Entertainment Director
Alastair Greener from Marlborough, England has a love of both the sea and stage, characteristics that will serve him well as he prepares to join Queen Elizabeth as Entertainment Director. Alastair has also served as Entertainment Director on both Queen Mary 2 and QE2 and was the first Entertainment Director onboard Queen Victoria.

Currently, Greener is the face of the company's very popular blog, WeAreCunard.com, which he frequently updates with all the latest news about the fleet. Alastair is a member of the British Actors' Union and has appeared in a wide range of film, theatre and television productions, including the BBC's "House of Cards" and Warner Brothers' "Black Beauty." He was also asked to represent CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) as a media tour spokesperson.

Prior to Cunard, Greener joined Princess Cruises in 1997 and served on eight ships within the fleet.

Hamish Sunter, Staff Captain
Halifax-born Captain Hamish Sunter joined Cunard in 1990 as an officer on Cunard Princess, where he remained for three years. He also obtained his Master's Certificate at this time. In 1993 he was transferred to QE2 as Junior First Officer and left that ship as Chief Officer in 1998. After two years Sunter was keen to go back to sea, which he did in 2000 with P&O Cruises, sailing as First Officer on several of their ships. He returned to Cunard as Chief Officer on Queen Mary 2 in October 2005. He rejoined QE2 as Staff Captain in December 2006 and has also served in that capacity onboard Queen Victoria.

Colin Black, Chief Engineer
Colin Black hales from East Lothian near Edinburgh, Scotland and joined P&O / Princess Cruises in 1990 as a CPO Mechanic onboard Royal Princess. He subsequently moved up the ranks to First Engineer prior to being given the responsibility for the newbuild of Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess, followed by Ocean Princess. In 2001 he was based in the Southampton Office working within the newbuild department. In 2002 he moved across to P&O Cruises serving onboard Oriana, Aurora and then the new Arcadia. Black's first appointment as Chief Engineer was onboard Tahitian Princess in 2006 and her sister ship Pacific Princess.

In 2007 he was assigned as Technical Fleet Services Project Manager for Queen Victoria, thereafter taking over as Chief Engineer.

"Loyal Cunarders will be delighted to find so many familiar faces aboard our newest ship," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "One of our distinguishing characteristics is the number and frequency of our repeat guests, and they will truly appreciate sailing with these revered and long time Cunard staff members."

The new cruise ship will be a sister ship of "MSC Fantasia" and "MSC Splendida", which were delivered from STX France's St. Nazaire shipyard in December 2008 and July 2009, respectively. The new vessel will be the 9th cruise ship built in St. Nazaire for MSC Cruises.

The new cruise ship will have a length of 330 meters and a size of about 140.000 GT. The vessel will have 1,751 cabins, which is 100 more cabins than her two sister vessels. The vessel will have an ultra-modern design with multiple dining and entertainment options - with the highest environmental standards.

"This letter of intent demonstrates the excellent and exceptional collaboration between teams of STX at St. Nazaire and those of MSC Cruises. We look forward to implementing our expertise to again fulfil the promise of exceptional quality, deliverability, and design for MSC Cruises" says Mr. Jacques Hardelay, President of STX France SA.

The new order will generate about 5,000,000 hours of work for the industrial area of St. Nazaire - mostly at STX France SA and its sub-suppliers and partners. For the shipyard, it represents two years of work for 1,000 of 2,300 employees

Final confirmation of the order remains subject to finalization of financing arrangements and Board approval.

Fred. Olsen is not anticipating any change to the published itinerary, nor to the fly-cruise programme operating to Callao via Lima on 2nd/3rd March 2010.

Because of a tsunami warning on Saturday, the Port of Honolulu was temporarily closed. NCL's Pride of America which was scheduled to dock in Honolulu Saturday morning spent the day at sea until the port re-opened around 3:00 PM. The next scheduled cruise departed later Saturday night.

NCL's Norwegian Sun was in Montevideo, Uruguay on Saturday and was unaffected by the earthquake. The ship arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday as scheduled and began to embark guests for the February 28, 2010 cruise.

Star Princess will end its current cruise in Valparaiso, Chile as scheduled on Tuesday morning, March 2. The cruise terminal is open and operational.

The airport there is operating on a very limited basis, and the vast majority of inbound and outbound flights have been cancelled.

Should air service remain limited on Tuesday, Princess said that it plans to keep Star Princess in Valparaiso for at least another 24 hours so that passengers who are unable to fly out, will be able to stay onboard until flight operations resume. Passengers who are already in Valparaiso will also be able to embark and stay on board the ship.

Princess said that it still plans to operate the next scheduled cruise, which is sailing to Rio de Janeiro but the earliest the ship would sail from Valparaiso would be Wednesday, March 3 at 6 pm.

Passengers who have booked their outbound or inbound air through Princess are being re-booked, and any modification to pre- or post packages have been taken care of.

For passengers onboard who had made independent travel plans in Valparaiso, Princess said that it was assisting them by checking on the status of their hotel.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	36.10	+ 5.83%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	28.36	+ 6.58%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.76	+ 17.33%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Prior to S.O.S. a different code was used as the International signal for distress. What was the code, what did it stand for, and what was the first large passenger ship to use it to request help?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
When the Carnival Spirit (893 feet long and 84,000 tons) entered service in 2001 how many plastic deck chairs did she carry for her 2,124 passengers (...closest answer wins)?

Answer - There were 1,275 plastic deck chairs on the Carnival Spirit when she entered service (editor note: closest answer, actual number was 1,200).
courtesy of Phyllis Montgomery

Cruise News - February 23, 2010

"Pink has become synonymous with the fight against breast cancer, so we are delighted to offer NBCF the opportunity to boost awareness of research and claim a world first by being the first to illuminate a liner in pink," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.

Queen Victoria will make history again this time next year when she sails her first "Americas" season, traversing the Panama Canal on more than one voyage, making rare roundtrip sailings from Los Angeles to Hawaii, plus debuting her maiden Mexico Getaway voyage.

The new ships - which will have an all-in cost of approximately euro 155,000 per lower berth - are scheduled to enter service in spring 2013 and spring 2014. At 139,000 tons each, the as-yet-unnamed ships will be 20% larger than the largest in the Princess Cruises fleet today.

When Celebrity Eclipse - the third in Celebrity Cruises' stylish Solstice Class fleet of ships - launches in April, guests will find the first "Celebrity iLounge." Designed to not only offer a hip, modern lounge ambience, Celebrity also created the space to offer what its guests said they wanted most in an Internet cafe: easy access to the Internet, inspiring classes and new products.

The Celebrity iLounge is composed of three main areas: a series of 26 contemporary workstations where guests can check their e-mail, retain their social media connections, or print boarding passes; a retail space offering cruisers the opportunity to see and try out the latest MacBooks®, iPods® and accessories; and an enrichment center where certified staff will offer guests tips on Mac or iPod usage.

"Our new Celebrity iLounge is a direct outgrowth of our 'Designed for you' brand platform, and our commitment to listen to our guests and offer experiences and programs expressly designed for them," said Celebrity's President and CEO Dan Hanrahan. "Our surveys show that our guests rely heavily on the Internet for research, learning and staying in touch, so we think this new offering will be a big hit, as will the contemporary online classes offered through the 'Discover' series of our inspiring and enriching 'Celebrity Life' experiences."

Enhancing the "Discover" component of its "Celebrity Life" series of inspiring enrichment and entertainment experiences, Celebrity will offer in the Celebrity iLounge a series of engaging new courses designed to suit its guests' interests - including do-it-yourself photo books, movie editing and web design, through programs including iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD and iWeb. And whether guests are savvy or novice users of Mac or iPod products, Celebrity's certified staff will be well-equipped to assist, following more than 125 hours of training in operating systems, applications, and products. They also will be poised to illustrate to guests the differences between Macs and PCs.

Guests eager to expand their collection of merchandise will find the Celebrity iLounge an enticing venue, too. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, Celebrity will have products available for guests to purchase, including iPods, MacBooks, and essential accessories.

Located on deck six of Celebrity Eclipse, the Celebrity iLounge will house the 26 MacBook Pro's, classroom and retail area, in addition to display pods, a 56-inch flat-screen TV for use during classes, and an accessible workstation.

The Celebrity iLounge also will be presented on Celebrity Silhouette, which launches in 2011, and the fifth ship in the Solstice Class fleet, which sets sail in 2012.

"The Black Sea cruises are an exotic counterpart to the more familiar Mediterranean hot spots," says Bill Smith, senior vice president, sales and marketing. "These destinations have a mysterious charm and tremendous historic value that places them high on travelers' lists of must-see places."

Beginning with overnight stays in Venice, the itineraries visit Katakolon (birthplace of the Olympics) and Navplion, Greece; Nesebur, Bulgaria; Yalta, Sevastopol and Odessa, Ukraine; and conclude with an overnight stay in Istanbul, Turkey. Other highlights include the sail from Venice, the cruise through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus Straits.

Distinguished speakers on world affairs, architecture, science and culture add rich dimension to the voyages, including Newsweek's Chief Political Correspondent, Senior Editor and Deputy Washington Bureau Chief, Howard Fineman; Dr. David Davenport, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former president of Pepperdine University; and Dr. Bulent Atalay, a compelling expert on art, archaeology and the sciences.

Entitled "Gangway," the new spot is the second of three commercials that are being rolled out as part of a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign designed to showcase the unique kind of genuine, participatory fun unleashed on a Carnival cruise. "Gangway" captures the moment of transformation that happens to a Carnival guest when he/she crosses the bridge and goes from land to sea, leaving the everyday worries and routine of today back onshore.

Like the first spot in the series, the new commercial features the brand's existing "Fun For All. All For Fun" tagline, as well as the song "Bang the Drum" by Todd Rundgren.

The third and final spot in the series is slated to debut in May. All three spots were produced by Carnival's advertising agency, Arnold Worldwide.

In addition to being shown during the Olympics, the spots appear on ABC, CBS and NBC in a wide variety of programming such as Today Show, Good Morning America, The Office, Modern Family, NCIS: LA and The Mentalist.

The four A la Carte tours range from 10 to 12 nights, offering at least three nights in the Denali area. All cruisetours feature a northbound "Voyage of the Glaciers" Gulf of Alaska cruise aboard Coral Princess or Island Princess, departing from Vancouver; combined with a three-, four- or five-night land tour to the heart of Alaska, featuring stays in Princess' two Denali-area wilderness lodges and exclusive Direct-to-the-Wilderness rail service. All tours will visit both of the state's top attractions: Denali National Park and Glacier Bay National Park.

Travelers choosing these itineraries will not be scheduled on the Denali National Park tour or other activities usually included with cruisetours, and instead can choose to add any of four park tour options or a variety of other area excursions offered at Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge.

"These new A la Carte cruisetours are designed specifically with the value-conscious, independent traveler in mind," said Charlie Ball, president of Princess Tours. "With fewer ?extras' included, we can offer a more affordable tour option with greater flexibility for travelers who prefer to discover the wonders of Alaska at their own pace. Passengers can truly customize their vacation to suit their own interests, whether they want to spend extra time viewing Denali's fascinating wildlife, hike through the spectacular wilderness or try an exhilarating pursuit such as river rafting."

The four A la Carte cruisetours itineraries are:
Tour 101 -- 10 nights (Two nights at Denali lodge, one night at Mt. McKinley lodge)
Tour 102 -- 11 nights (Two nights at Denali lodge, one night at Mt. McKinley lodge, one night Fairbanks)
Tour 103 -- 11 nights (Two nights at Denali lodge, two nights at Mt. McKinley lodge)
Tour 104 -- 12 nights (Two nights at Denali lodge, two nights at Mt. McKinley lodge, one night Fairbanks)

Grant will oversee all aspects of shipboard applications and technology. He also will be responsible for implementing a crew management system, system enhancements for the mariner loyalty program and outfitting the technology infrastructure for ms Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland America Line's new ship that will sail July 4, 2010.

"Jason brings a wealth of knowledge about the cruise industry and information technology," said Brent Davidson, vice president, information technology. "We look forward to his success in this role and welcome him to the team."

Grant joins Holland America Line from Lindblad Expeditions, where he served as director, information technology. During his ten-year career at Lindblad, Grant managed technology innovation for the expedition line's fleet, enhancing ship operations and guest experience. Prior to his tenure as director, he incorporated fleetwide computer systems and provided oversight of fleetwide administration as network manager.

Grant volunteers his time as a coach for local youth sports and mentors kids in the community. A Pacific Northwest native for 25 years, Grant lives in Puyallup with his family.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	34.11	+ 3.93%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	26.61	+ 3.99%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.50	- 9.09%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
When the Carnival Spirit (893 feet long and 84,000 tons) entered service in 2001 how many plastic deck chairs did she carry for her 2,124 passengers (...closest answer wins)?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
Which former cruise ship was severely damaged and almost sank after striking ice in June of 1989?

Answer - The Soviet ship Maxim Gorky (built 1969, scrapped 2009) with 952 aboard, struck an iceberg in the Norwegian Sea.
courtesy of "Florida Rich"

Cruise News - February 15, 2010

During the sea trials, 300 technicians and engineers from STX FRANCE SA, along with 30 Norwegian Cruise Line representatives, checked more than 60 different aspects of the ship's performance by running trials of the vessel's speed, maneuverability, hydrodynamics and propulsion, amongst others.

"During her first time ever at sea, Norwegian Epic performed above expectations with excellent marine behavior," said Roberto Martinoli, Norwegian's president and COO, who was on-board during the sea trials. "All tests were conducted with positive results. She is a beautiful ship with outstanding performance. Now that sea trials are completed, we can concentrate on finishing the ship and showing her to the world in June."

A second round of sea trials is scheduled for mid-April in order to finalize all tests, including final speed measurement. The 153,000-gross ton, 4,200-passenger ship - the largest ship ever built in Saint-Nazaire - is scheduled for delivery on June 15, 2010.

Following her seven-day transatlantic crossing from Southampton to New York on June 24, 2010 and inaugural activities in New York and Miami, Norwegian Epic will sail alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami from July 10, 2010 through April 30, 2011.

Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The Western Caribbean cruises visit Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico.

The 2011 cruise season from May-October will have Norwegian Epic sailing a series of seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona. When she returns to Miami on November 5, 2011, she will sail a series of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises through April 7, 2012.

Called the "Bon Voyage Experience(SM)," the program is a new twist on the departure celebration of bygone days, when friends and family would routinely come aboard to see off passengers. Because of increasingly tighter security procedures, this practice disappeared more than two decades ago, but it's now back - complete with lunch in the dining room and tour of the ship.

Unique in the cruise industry, the Bon Voyage Experience(SM) enables passengers to extend an invitation to their guests to join them onboard during sailing day for a four-course dining room lunch with wine, a ship tour and even a souvenir photo. Passengers and their guests can enjoy priority embarkation and will be able to spend approximately four hours together on the ship before it sets sail. The cost for the program is $39 per person, which can be applied toward a future Princess cruise.

The program will debut in March in the ports of Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, and then roll out to New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

"Long-time cruisers will recall the fun of the bon voyage send-off with their family and friends, and we're excited to re-introduce a new, modern version of this experience," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president.

Cruise passengers will be notified about the program through the pre-cruise emails they receive from Princess as their cruise date approaches. In-port guests can be booked through a travel agent or by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, beginning 120 days before the cruise and up to six days before the sailing date. Once registered, guests will be able to input their required security information through the line's Cruise Personalizer.

The number of guests who will be able to participate in the Bon Voyage Experience(SM) on any given embarkation day will be approximately 50.

The roll-out schedule for the launch of the Bon Voyage Experience(SM) is:

• Sapphire Princess - March 6 in Los Angeles
• Crown Princess - March 6 in Fort Lauderdale
• Coral Princess - March 7 in Los Angeles
• Emerald Princess - March 7 in Fort Lauderdale
• Island Princess - March 10 in Los Angeles
• Ruby Princess - March 10 in Fort Lauderdale
• Golden Princess - March 14 in Los Angeles
• Royal Princess - March 27 in Fort Lauderdale
• Star Princess - April 10 in Fort Lauderdale
• Caribbean Princess - May 18 in New York
• Sea Princess - June 1 in San Francisco

During the Alaska season, Sapphire Princess, Golden Princess and Royal Princess will offer the program in Seattle, beginning in May.

That was until Benito Estevez, a Spanish fisherman who was trawling the ocean last month, discovered the lost camera in his net! While the camera itself was damaged beyond repair, the photo memory card was amazingly intact.

The fisherman contacted both Cunard and the BBC and the BBC managed to locate the couple in South Africa. The Gregorys have since been reunited with the camera and their photographs.

"In all my years in the travel industry I have never heard of such a heart-warming stroke of luck and we at Cunard are delighted that Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have been reunited with their photos," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "The images are even more poignant as they depict the last transatlantic crossing of the great QE2 and can never be taken again."

Eighteen new balconies were also incorporated onto existing ocean view staterooms and a new Mongolian wok venue was added to the casual poolside restaurant. Bow-to-stern Wi-Fi access was added, as well.

From February to May, Carnival Glory operates seasonal seven-day cruises from Miami, alternating weekly to the eastern and western Caribbean. Seven-day eastern Caribbean cruises visit Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk, while the western route features Grand Cayman, Isla Roatan, Belize and Cozumel.

The ship will then be deployed to New York where it will offer a series of four- and five-day Atlantic Canada voyages from June 6 – September 6, 2010, followed by a series of seven-day Canada/New England cruises, from September 11 – October 9.

Located poolside on Lido Deck is the Carnival Glory's new "Seaside Theatre," a massive 270-square-foot LED screen displaying movies, concerts, sporting events, and other programming, including the popular "Morning Show" hosted by the ship's cruise director. Utilizing the same technology featured in large stadiums and New York's Times Square, the state-of-the-art entertainment system includes a 70,000-watt sound system, providing concert quality sound, even outdoors.

During dry dock, 18 new balconies were added to existing Spa Deck accommodations, creating spacious 220-square-foot verandah staterooms. They are conveniently located next to the ship's 14,500-square-foot "Spa Carnival" facility offering sophisticated exercise equipment, expansive workout facilities and a variety of soothing European-style treatments.

With the addition of these newly reconfigured staterooms, nearly 40 percent of the Carnival Glory's 1,487 cabins now feature private balconies.

Another popular feature added during the dry dock is Serenity, a two-level adults-only retreat located forward on Sun Deck and Sky Deck. Designed as an oceangoing oasis for relaxation, with decorative latticework and teak-style decking, this area features different styles of seating, including shaded sun loungers and hammocks, a full bar, and two oversized whirlpools.

A new Circle "C" facility catering to 12- to 14-year-olds has been added as part of the line's unique offerings for kids. The center features a high-tech sound and lighting system, plasma-screen TVs displaying movies and music videos, and gaming pods with the latest video games and consoles.

A new Mongolian wok option was added to the Carnival Glory's Red Sail casual restaurant located poolside on Lido Deck. At the new venue, guests can select their favorite meat, sauce, vegetables and other ingredients and watch as a chef creates their custom-designed stir fry dish right before their eyes.

Additionally, the Golden dining room, located forward, was reconfigured for Your Time Dining providing guests the option of open seating between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightly.

These cruises go on sale to Norwegian's top travel partners and Latitudes members (past guests) today, February 9, 2010, and to the general public on Thursday, February 11. Norwegian is currently offering a 50 percent reduced deposit for all bookings made fleetwide through February 14, 2010. In addition, for all cruises booked to Europe, the line is offering up to a six category upgrade, if booked by February 14, 2010.

"Our summer 2011 deployment is filled with exciting itineraries and new choices, so that our guests can enjoy Freestyle Cruising to a variety of destinations around the world during the popular summer travel season," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's CEO.

In the Baltic, Norwegian Sun will sail from Copenhagen, Denmark, a new homeport for Norwegian, on 15 nine-day Baltic Capitals cruises. Ports of call include: Berlin (Warnemünde), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm (Nynashamn), Sweden.

In addition to Norwegian Epic's deployment from Barcelona to the Western Mediterranean in the summer of 2011, Norwegian Jade, which currently sails year-round in Europe, will replace Norwegian Gem sailing from Venice on a seven-day Greek Isles cruise with ports of call including: Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and Olympia (Katakolon), Greece. The ship will also sail a seven-day Adriatic, Greece and Turkey cruise with ports of call including: Dubrovnik, Croatia; Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Turkey and Split, Croatia. These sailings can be booked back-to-back for a 14-day cruise with no port repetition sailing to Greece, Italy, Croatia and Turkey.

Norwegian will continue its commitment to Bermuda, sailing two ships from the Northeast to Bermuda weekly from May through October calling on King's Wharf. Norwegian Gem, one of Norwegian's newest and largest Freestyle Cruising ships carrying 2,400 guests, will replace Norwegian Dawn sailing from New York on Sundays to Bermuda, staying for three full days. In Boston, the 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn will homeport there for the first time, replacing Norwegian Spirit which sailed from Boston for two years. The ship will depart on Fridays with three days in Bermuda.

For the first time in Norwegian's history, the line will homeport year-round in the Big Easy with Norwegian Spirit sailing weekly seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from April 2011 through April 2012. The 2,000-passenger Norwegian Spirit will depart New Orleans every Sunday. Ports of call include Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras; and Belize City, Belize. Norwegian has homeported cruise ships in New Orleans seasonally since 2003 with Norwegian Spirit there in the winter since 2007.

Norwegian Jewel, carrying 2,400 passengers, will continue her year-round deployment in New York sailing seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises departing on Saturdays through April 2012. Ports of call include: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's private island) and Nassau, Bahamas. Norwegian Jewel will offer Nickelodeon" at Sea, exclusively on Norwegian Cruise Line, with Nickelodeon-themed family programming on all of its sailings. Guests will have the opportunity to experience character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more.

Also from New York beginning in December 2011 through April 2012, Norwegian Gem will sail a series of weekly seven-day Bahamas & Florida cruises, departing on Sundays, with stops in Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian's private island) and Nassau, Bahamas.

In Alaska, both Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Star will return, sailing seven-day Glacier Bay and Sawyer Glacier cruises respectively, both from Seattle, Washington. Norwegian Pearl's weekly Glacier Bay cruises depart on Sundays and will sail through Alaska's Inside Passage with ports of call including: Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Pearl will also sail a seven-day Alaska & Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 8, 2011 and a seven-day Glacier Bay cruise from Seattle to Vancouver on September 18, 2011. Norwegian Star's weekly Sawyer Glacier cruises depart on Saturdays sailing through Alaska's Inside Passage with ports of call including: Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska; and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Norwegian Star will also sail a seven-day Sawyer Glacier cruise from Vancouver to Seattle on May 14, 2011 and a seven-day Sawyer Glacier from Seattle to Vancouver on September 17, 2011.

For the shorter cruise option, Norwegian Sky will continue sailing three- and four-day cruises to the Bahamas year-round from Miami through April 20, 2012. The three-day Bahamas cruise departs Fridays and includes stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas. On Mondays, the ship departs Miami on a four-day Bahamas cruise with stops in Grand Bahama Island, Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The whale was entangled in 1/8 inch diameter "longline" and had hooks in the tail, pectoral fins and baleen (whalebone in upper jaws). A longline, also known as ´simbra´, is a high resistance commercial deep sea fishing line that uses hundreds or even thousands of baited hooks hanging from a single line, sometimes over a mile in length.

The whale was first spotted Jan. 22 around 2pm CT in front of Four Seasons Resort (near Punta de Mita) by Mexican Navy – Military Zone 8, lead by LT Luis Vidal. After a quick evaluation by PROFEPA (Mexican Environment Enforcement Agency), it was decided to set-up a rescue network and request assistance from Vallarta Adventures and ITMAR, local marine mammal experts.

The process of cutting a large, free-swimming whale, is also extremely dangerous for the people involved. Many amateur rescuers have either died or been critically injured in attempts to free animals. Despite good weather conditions, the timing (only one hour left till dusk) and the rough waters combined with high tide made the operation too risky for both animals and humans.

While the Mexican Navy coordinated the movements of the whales with two boats, three diving instructors and a marine mammal expert of Vallarta Adventures tried to get rid of most of the material that was handicapping the whale. The whole operation had to be done with extreme care to avoid any stress on her calf.

On Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT the mother was successfully disentangled and swam away free with her baby.

"Our tour operators regularly become involved in these sorts of wildlife rescues," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs, Holland America Line. "We applaud Vallarta Adventures dedication to wildlife and are proud to work with them. We share their commitment to the environment and nature."

Based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Vallarta Adventures provides safe learning experiences for those who like to explore nature and culture. For Holland America Line, they operate several tours in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, including interactive ecological dolphin encounters, eco safaris, horseback rides to secluded beaches, canopy adventures and America's Cup sailing regattas. Vallarta Adventures also works locally with ecological programs and regularly provides sea mammal rescue assistance.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	32.82	- 1.03%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.59	+ 1.71%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.65	- 1.20%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Which former cruise ship was severely damaged and almost sank after striking ice in June of 1989?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
This week we have another visual Cruise Trivia Question. The picture below was taken from the beach in Nassau. There are five cruise ships in the picture, can you name them all?

Click here for a larger version.

Answer - 1. Rccl Sovereign of the seas, 2. Disney magic, 3. Ocean breeze, 4. carnival fantasy 5. Oceanic Big Red Boat 1
courtesy of Jeremy Andrews, Montreal

Cruise News - February 8, 2010

In addition to the charter to provide accommodations for the duration of the Olympic Games, the company said it was cancelling a pre cruise voyage, scheduled for 6-10 February from LA to Vancouver, the post cruise voyage, scheduled for 2-6 March from Vancouver to LA

In the statement, Newwest apologized to guests and said that they would be issuing refunds and that anyone who had booked a room on Norwegian Star during the charter should contact them at 877.254.2010 or 780.450.1555.

Guests booked on the original inaugural season sail date of December 12, 2010, will be contacted by their travel agent or a Royal Caribbean representative, and given the opportunity to move their cruise vacation to the new sailing of December 5.

Booked guests who wish to take the December 5 sailing will be re-accommodated in the same stateroom and category, and the cruise fare will be the lower of either the fare paid or current prices. Guests booked on the December 12, 2010 sailing will have until the end of February 2010 to opt to change their cruise to the December 5 sailing and ensure they keep the same stateroom.

Carnival Fascination operates Jacksonville's only year-round cruise schedule, carrying approximately 170,000 passengers a year. On this program, four-day cruises departing Thursdays visit Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas; five-day cruises departing Mondays call at Key West, Fla., and Nassau; and five-day voyages departing Saturdays visit the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

"Our Jacksonville-based cruises are a great option for those seeking a convenient, high quality vacation at a tremendous value and these new features will enhance the Carnival Fascination's already strong appeal with consumers," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO.

Added Rick Ferrin, JAXPORT's CEO, "The Fascination has proved to be a tremendous draw for cruise passengers from throughout the southeastern U.S. with the ship typically sailing at 100 percent capacity. This package of new amenities will refresh the experience for repeat customers and enhance the experience for first-time cruisers. It's a win-win situation for all of us."

Exciting Top Deck Features - Carnival Fascination's multi-million dollar refurbishment included a total transformation of its open decks, which now feature a massive new WaterWorks aqua park on Verandah Deck. This sprawling, all-ages facility includes an enclosed 300-foot-long Twister water slide full of exhilarating twists and turns, two 82-foot-long racing slides, and a splash zone for kids. The ship's Lido Deck pool was also renovated with a colorful tropical theme featuring oversized umbrellas, vibrant tile work, thatched roofing and huge stylized palm trees, creating a relaxing resort-style ambiance.

New Balcony Accommodations - Ninety-eight balconies were also added to existing accommodations during the dry dock, creating spacious 230-square-foot balcony staterooms that provide the ideal vantage point for viewing the tropical scenery. Sixty-two of the new balcony staterooms are located aft with several of these featuring extended balconies, while 24 are located mid-ship and 12 near the stern. Several suites were also retrofitted with larger, extended balconies.

New Adults-Only Retreat - Another popular "Evolutions of Fun" element added during the dry dock was an adults-only retreat called Serenity, which is located on Promenade Deck aft, providing magnificent ocean vistas. Designed as an oceangoing oasis for relaxation, this area features a tropical design with teak-style decking, colorful umbrellas, and thatched roofing, along with two oversized whirlpools. Guests can relax in comfortable chaise lounges and chairs while enjoying frozen drinks and other icy concoctions.

Dining Enhancements - Delicious new dining options were added to the ship's casual poolside restaurant, Coconut Grove Bar & Grill. These include a Mongolian wok venue where guests can select their favorite meat, sauce, vegetables and other ingredients and watch as a chef creates their custom-designed stir fry dish, and a rotisserie featuring roasted chicken and traditional side dishes.

Additionally, the Sensation and Imagination main dining rooms were refurbished with new carpeting, upholstery and other cosmetic enhancements. The Sensation dining room, located forward, was also reconfigured for Your Time Dining providing guests the option of open seating between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightly.

"The Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico and Hawaii all offer extraordinary cruise experiences that include exotic ports, warm water beaches and exciting shore excursions," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Each region is historically and culturally different so guests can choose from six- to 25-day cruises for a perfect warm weather vacation."

Nine ships -- including the new ms Nieuw Amsterdam -- will sail 142 cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean. Six ships will feature 25 full-transit Panama Canal cruises. Four ships will offer 40 cruises to the popular Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez. And ms Zaandam will add 11 among the Hawaiian islands.

A leader in cruises of 10 days or longer, Holland America Line's Caribbean itineraries range from six to 25 days. Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Ryndam and ms Westerdam offer six- and seven-day western, eastern or southern itineraries while the ms Noordam, ms Zuiderdam, ms Maasdam and ms Prinsendam feature 10- to 25-day explorations of the southern and eastern Caribbean.

All cruises sail roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale or Tampa from October 2010 through April 2011 with 14 holiday cruises in late December. Many departures are designed so guests can combine different seven-day Caribbean sailings to offer a more in-depth 14-day exploration. They also can combine two 10-day Noordam Southern Caribbean sailings to create a truly memorable 20-day Collector's Cruise. Maasdam offers 21-, 24- and 25-day Collectors' Cruises.

Holland America's 10-day cruises to the southern Caribbean feature three itinerary options. Wayfarer itineraries highlight the islands of St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados and Martinique while Seafarer cruises showcase the Turks & Caicos Islands, Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Curaçao and Aruba. Nineteen Sunfarer itineraries combine some of these enticing destinations with Panama Canal cruising.

Aboard Maasdam, guests enjoy unique 10-day eastern and 11- and 14-day southern Caribbean itineraries roundtrip Fort Lauderdale. The eastern itinerary visits San Juan, Puerto Rico; Gustavia, St. Barts; Rosseau, Dominica; St. John's, Antigua; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; and Half Moon Cay. Both southern routes call at islands that can feature Half Moon Cay, St. Croix, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, St. Barts, Martinique, and St. Maarten en route to Barbados. The 14-day option will also sail to the ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao.

Popular six- and seven-day cruises explore the eastern, western and southern Caribbean, some including Central American ports. Itineraries may include the Turks and Caicos Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Grand Cayman; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Falmouth, Jamaica; Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

Most Caribbean itineraries call at Holland America Line's award-winning private island, Half Moon Cay, which continues to be the line's highest-rated Caribbean port of call. Here guests can enjoy activities such as the guided AquaTrax watercraft tour, stingray adventure, and a horseback riding and swimming excursion.

Transit an Historic Engineering Feat on Panama Canal Cruises Holland America Line features 25 full-transit cruises though the canal from fall 2010 through spring 2011. Six ships - Statendam, Westerdam, Maasdam, Zuiderdam, Ryndam, ms Rotterdam and ms Amsterdam - offer itineraries ranging from 14 to 30 days. Cruises depart Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver, British Columbia.

he 14-day Panama Canal Adventurer and Explorer itineraries feature ports in the Mexican Riviera, Central America and Caribbean that may include Fuerte Amador (Panama City); Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Puerto Chiapas, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and Oranjestad, Aruba. Longer cruises may add Grand Cayman; Corinto, Nicaragua; Santa Marta, Colombia; and the San Blas Islands of Panama. Guests may also combine east and westbound crossings for an all-inclusive 28-day Collector's voyage, featuring in-depth exploration of the Panama Canal and surrounding regions with two complete transits.

For an extensive exploration, the Apr. 17 Rotterdam transit includes several ports in South America en route to a two-night stay in Callao, the gateway to Lima, Peru. The 30-day cruise, roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, also visits both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Central America.

From fall 2010 to spring 2011 Holland America Line is featuring 36 six- to 12-day cruises to the popular Mexican Riviera, plus four ranging from 10 to 14 days that highlight the Sea of Cortez with optional tours to famous Copper Canyon.

ms Oosterdam sails one six-day and several seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises roundtrip from San Diego in fall and winter/spring. The Vista-class ship cruises first through wildlife-rich Bahia Magdalena and then visits the lively ports of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. Oosterdam also offers a 14-day Sea of Cortez itinerary from San Diego to Vancouver, British Columbia, in the spring.

ms Zaandam features 10-, 11- and 14-day cruises departing roundtrip from San Diego for the Sea of Cortez and Mexican Riviera in winter and spring 2011. Guests visit Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, Guaymas, Topolobampo, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on the Sea of Cortez itineraries. From Topolobampo, the highlight is the full-day optional excursion via rail deep into spectacular Copper Canyon.

In addition, ms Rotterdam offers a 12-day holiday cruise and ms Amsterdam sails two six-day cruises to the Mexican

San Diego is also the convenient homeport for roundtrip cruises to Hawaii. From October 2010 through April 2011, Zaandam offers 11 Circle Hawaii cruises that range from 14 to 18 days, including one holiday sailing. Departures mostly sail roundtrip from San Diego; one sails in April 2011 roundtrip from Vancouver, British Columbia in the Pacific Northwest. In October 2010, Zaandam features a 15-day Circle Hawaii sailing from Vancouver to San Diego.

The cruises call at four main islands, including Hilo, Hawaii; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai; and Lahaina, Maui. The October 2010 15-day sailing calls on these ports and also at Kona with an evening cruise by Kilauea Volcano.

Rotterdam adds four 30- and 31-day Circle Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas voyages that sail roundtrip from San Diego.

"When Cunard began its Transatlantic liner service 170 years ago, it began a tradition of bridging the United Kingdom and the United States. With this programme, we will bring to life and explore the historical connection between these two countries with our guests, who have expressed great interest in the subject," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "Additionally, the Special Relationship series further underscores Cunard's commitment to bringing its guests not only legendary voyages aboard the most famous ocean liners in the world, but also engaging and intellectual pursuits during their journey."

Joining the 15 April Crossing will be Iwan Morgan, professor of U.S. Studies and head of U.S. Programmes at the Institute for the Study of the Americas at the University of London. The political scientist also has been published widely in various fields of modern U.S. political history and economy. His latest book, The Age of Deficits Presidents and Unbalanced Budgets from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush, was published at the end of 2009.

Kenneth T. Walsh, chief White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, is scheduled to sail on the 1 June Transatlantic Crossing. He has covered the residencies of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and, currently, Barack Obama. Walsh is the author of four books focused on presidential topics and has won the two most prestigious awards for White House coverage - the Aldo Beckman Award in 1991 and the Gerald R. Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency in 1992 and 1998.

Sailing aboard the 22 April and 25 June Crossings is Jeffrey Weinberg, who has served each of the last seven U.S. presidents as a legislative attorney at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Executive Office of the President. While onboard, Weinberg will be leading discussions on the following topics: insights into the Obama administration, stengths and weaknesses of the governments of the U.S. and the U.K., and "tools" that are available to the President to enhance his effectiveness.

Additional programme participants will be announced in the coming months. Other scheduled voyages featuring Special Relationship speakers include:

• 12 September
• 1 October
• 10 November

The Special Relationship series is part of Cunard Insights, the enrichment programme that introduces guests to stimulating experts and accomplished visionaries who reflect the Line's heritage of adventure and prestige. Through a series of lectures, Q&A's, social gatherings and workshops, guests connect with personalities who have achieved notable distinction in areas including history, world affairs, science, arts and literature. The Insights programme underscores Cunard's longstanding view that onboard entertainment should afford guests a provocative and rewarding cerebral experience.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.16	- 1.19%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.16	- 0.12%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.67	- 9.73%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
This week we have another visual Cruise Trivia Question. The picture below was taken from the beach in Nassau. There are five cruise ships in the picture, can you name them all?

Click here for a larger version.

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
Which famous former liner served as James Bond's headquarters in the film "The Man with the Golden Gun"?

Answer - The ship in question was the wreck of the Seawise University (ex Queen Elizabeth). The ship caught fire and sunk in Hong Kong Harbour (arson?) in 1972. The wreck was scrapped a few years later.
courtesy of kevmar@gibtelecom.net

Cruise News - February 1, 2010

Guests scheduled to sail on the Feb. 13 or 18 voyages will have the option of receiving a future cruise credit or full refund of their cruise fare. A $100 shipboard credit will be provided to those guests who were scheduled on the Feb. 13 voyage while those on the Feb. 18 departure will receive a $75 shipboard credit. The shipboard credit can be used on a future cruise departing prior to Dec. 15, 2011. For guests with independent air transportation, Carnival will reimburse up to $200 per person in the form of a shipboard credit for airline change fees when rebooking a future cruise. Travel agent commissions will be protected.

Additionally, three other cruises taking place prior to the dry dock will now operate modified itineraries. The five-day cruise departing Jan. 30 will now visit Cozumel and Costa Maya instead of Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. The four-day cruise departing Feb. 4 will visit Cozumel and cancel the scheduled call in Key West; and the five-day cruise departing Feb. 8 will now replace the scheduled call in Grand Turk with a stop at Freeport, along with visits to Nassau and Half Moon Cay. Although the itineraries for these voyages were modified because of the propulsion problem, all of the Carnival Destiny's normal dining, activity and entertainment options will be available.

Guests booked prior to Jan. 25 who sail on these three modified voyages will receive a $50 per person shipboard credit. If guests elect to cancel, they will have the option to receive a full refund or a future cruise credit equal to the amount of their cruise fare. Travel agent commission will be protected for cancellations on these cruises.

"We sincerely apologize for the impact of these changes on our guests' vacations plans and wish to thank them for their understanding," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO.

"In bringing the ship to Europe during her second season, we are combining the excitement of Norwegian Epic with a very popular European itinerary," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "With her world-class entertainment, wide range of accommodations, incredible amenities and plethora of dining options, Norwegian Epic will offer the best cruise experience for a wide-range of travelers looking to enjoy Europe in a whole new way."

Following her inaugural season, Norwegian Epic will continue sailing her alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, Florida through April 30, 2011. On May 7, 2011, the ship will depart Miami on an 11-day transatlantic crossing to Barcelona, Spain with one stop in Ponta Delgada, Azores. Upon her arrival in Barcelona on May 18, 2011, the ship will sail a four-day Western Mediterranean sailing with stops in Marseille, France and Palma, Majorca, Spain. She will then sail a series of 22 seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through October 16, 2011. A 13-day transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to Miami, Florida is scheduled for October 23, 2011 with stops in Ponta Delgada, Azores and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Once back in Miami, Norwegian Epic will sail a series of 23 seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises from November 5, 2011 through April 7, 2012. Ports of call on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary include: Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas, along with two full days at sea.

These additions, announced today, one year from the maiden voyage of the Disney Dream, offer new experiences for guests of all ages.

On Goofy's Sports Deck, the magic tees off on deck 13 with Goofy's Golf – a miniature golf course where "lessons" featuring Goofy and his son, Max, lead guests through nine themed holes of wacky fun. Each hole offers special golf instructions – with a goofy twist. Lessons include:
• "Handling a dog leg" – Guests avoid a fire hydrant and use Pluto's dog bone to guide them to the hole.
• "Stuck in the rough" – Goofy shows golfers how to avoid the tall turf and steer clear of a lawn mower.
• "Reading the green" – Stacks of books and a large magnifying glass are obstacles to circumvent on this undulating green.
• "Attacking the green" – Yo ho, yo ho! Golfers and landlubbers take a swashbuckling approach to sinking their putt on this pirate-themed hole.

Guests can choose to use the Goofy or Max tee on each hole, offering twice the fun. Family-friendly competitions and tournaments will keep the excitement on par while quirky golf clubs, some crooked and bent, will challenge golfers to stay on course. Goofy and Max may even swing by to interact with guests and offer some tips on club selection, stance or just goofing around.

Also on Goofy's Sports Deck, two digital sports simulators provide a variety of virtual game experiences such as soccer, tennis, basketball, golf and more. With the simulators, guests can kick, swing and throw, participating in favorite high-action sports without the hassle of chasing the ball.

Max's Courts are two mini-sized sports courts for little ones to enjoy soccer, basketball or group play. There's full-court basketball that may also be transformed into a mini soccer pitch or volleyball court, plus table tennis and foosball tables. A walking track rings Goofy's Sports Deck.

Nemo's Reef - Little ones discover oceans of fun at this fanciful water-play area overflowing with pop jets, bubblers and lovable underwater friends like Nemo, Dory, Marlin and other favorites from the Disney•Pixar film, "Finding Nemo."

Shaded for protection from the sun and featuring a soft wet-deck surface, the 1,500-square-foot Nemo's Reef is a place for children to cool off and play among colorful, interactive figures that move and spray water. Children will delight as they splash alongside Nemo swimming in a sea anemone, glide down a pint-sized water slide shaped like Mr. Ray and frolic near Pearl the octopus who "inks" herself with a mist of water. Kids can even get soaked in a water curtain that undulates back and forth like the EAC (East Australian Current).

Nemo's Reef is surrounded by a glass enclosure, with a main guest entrance and a wheelchair-accessible entrance.

Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar - Reserved exclusively for guests 18 and older, the Quiet Cove Pool and Cove Bar is a retreat for adults to sunbathe and swim, indulge in a cool drink or enjoy a relaxing dip in a nearby hot tub overlooking the ocean.

One of three fresh-water pools on the Disney Dream, Quiet Cove Pool features varying depths for taking a dip, sunbathing in comfort and enjoying a poolside cocktail. A series of connected circular pools includes a 4-foot-deep plunge pool and a 6-inch-deep sunbathing pool with built-in loungers and a mister. Guests also can splash up to Cove Bar, which is part of the pool, and sip a refreshing beverage.

Nearby, on the sides of deck 11, guests can soak in a whirlpool hot tub while overlooking the ocean. Four "infinity" whirlpool hot tubs – two for families and two just for adults – provide spectacular views of the ocean beyond.

AquaDuck and More! - The Disney Dream will feature the world's first shipboard water coaster – AquaDuck – which will sweep guests away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.

Donald Pool is the place for families to gather and enjoy all of the activities up on deck. Overlooking Donald Pool is the giant Funnel Vision LED screen – more than 30 feet wide and 18 feet high – showing Disney films and other live broadcast events. A retractable floor extends over the pool, providing an ideal dance floor for deck parties.

Continuing a favorite feature of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream will also have a Mickey Pool for children. The shape of Mickey Pool resembles the beloved Disney character, and an oversized version of Mickey's hand supports a yellow winding slide that splashes down near the pool.

As an added convenience for parents with children of different ages, Donald Pool, Mickey Pool and Nemo's Reef are all located within the same vicinity, on deck 11 between the forward and aft funnel.

"The City is proud to welcome Queen Victoria to San Francisco's waterfront as we so warmly welcomed her sister ship, Queen Mary 2, in 2007. Her arrival creates work for our longshoremen and women and business for our hotels, restaurants and shops," said Mayor Newsom. "As part of our commitment to create jobs and economic vitality, the City is working diligently to renovate San Francisco's Pier 27 into an international cruise terminal. We invite Cunard and all the lines to return often to this world-renowned cruise destination," added Mayor Newsom.

"We are once again delighted by the warm welcome we received today, and it is with great pride that we now add San Francisco to the list of more than 150 different ports visited since Queen Victoria began service two years ago," said Captain Paul Wright, Master, Queen Victoria. "Our maiden call today marks Queen Victoria's third maiden call on this world voyage and our only U.S. maiden call of the eight in total on this around-the-world-journey," he added.

Also welcoming Queen Victoria to the City by the Bay was the CEO and President of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, Joe D'Alessandro; President of the San Francisco Port Commission, Rodney Fong; and the President and CEO of Nautilus International Holding Corporate (parent company of Metro Cruise Services), James Callahan.

Queen Victoria continues her third World Voyage upon departing San Francisco this evening at approximately 6:00pm, crossing the Pacific en route to her next port of call: Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

Queen Victoria will spend more time on the west coast in winter 2011, sailing her Americas voyages, when she will make two transits through the Panama Canal, two roundtrip voyages from Los Angeles to Hawaii, and her first short Getaway voyage to Mexico.

The event, which was attended by dozens of friends and co-workers, served to pay tribute to the captain's long and distinguished maritime career which spans nearly 50 years, including the past 34 years at Carnival. During the reception, Captain Casula was given a number of commemorative gifts, including a traditional maritime clock presented by Carnival's Senior Vice President of Marine Operations Brendan Corrigan (left) and President and CEO Gerry Cahill (right) pictured here.

Captain Casula joined Carnival in 1976 as first officer and, after moving up through the ranks, was named captain in 1986. Over the course of his 34-year Carnival career, he commanded virtually every vessel in the company's fleet.

Prior to joining Carnival, Casula worked for eight years at Costa Cruises and five years on various cargo and tanker ships at Carlo Cameli Lin

Revenues were unchanged year over year at $1.5 billion for the fourth quarter of both 2009 and 2008. Net Yields decreased 7.2% from the prior year or 9.7% after adjusting for year over year changes in currency. Net Yields were at the upper end of previous guidance due to strength in both ticket and onboard revenues.

Net Cruise Costs per APCD ("NCC") decreased 10.5% from the prior year or 12.4% after adjusting for changes in currency. NCC excluding fuel, declined 8.8% from the prior year or 11.2% after adjusting for changes in currency.

Fuel costs were $5.0 million higher than the company's previous calculations. Fourth quarter pricing averaged $500 per metric ton and consumption was 325.2 thousand metric tons.

"Good cost discipline and better than expected revenues have enabled us to end 2009 on a decidedly upbeat note," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer. "We're happy to say goodbye to 2009 and pleased to embark on 2010 with an outlook of solid yield improvement, strong cost controls and improving returns to our shareholders." Fain continued, "We are also benefiting from the terrific success of our latest Oasis- and Solstice-class vessels. These ships are generating very healthy returns due to high guest satisfaction, excellent revenues and lower operating costs."

Net income for the full year 2009 was $162.4 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to net income of $573.7 million, or $2.68 per share, for the full year 2008. Revenues for the full year 2009 declined to $5.9 billion from revenues of $6.5 billion for the full year 2008. Fuel costs per metric ton decreased 18% to $486 for the full year and consumption was 1,235,000 metric tons. Fuel expenses for the year would have been higher if not for a 3.7% consumption improvement per APCD during 2009. Since 2005 the company has reduced energy consumption per APCD by 11%.

The company reported that early "wave season" bookings have been encouraging and that since the beginning of September, new bookings have been running approximately 30% higher than the corresponding period a year ago. Current price levels are also ahead of the same time last year across the majority of the company's product groups.

Royal Caribbean said that it reported that booked load factors and average per diems are ahead of same time last year for all four quarters and the full year. Royal Caribbean said that it expects net yields to increase approximately 2% for the first quarter and between 3% and 6% for the full year. After adjusting for changes in currency, Net Yields are forecasted to be around flat in the first quarter and increase 3% to 5% for the full year.

"Wave season is off to a promising start," said Brian J. Rice, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "It is still early in the selling cycle for 2010, but our order book is stronger and prices are higher than at this same time last year. We clearly are not at pre-recession demand levels, but we are pleased to see solid yield recovery underway."

In addition to the previously disclosed $0.30 per share legal settlement, a further $0.09 per share gain will be recognized related to the settlement in the first quarter. As a result, a total of $0.39 will be recorded as a one-time gain in other income/(expense) during the first quarter of 2010.

NCC are forecasted to be flat for the first quarter and flat to up slightly for the full year 2010. After adjusting for changes in currency, NCC are forecasted to decline approximately (1%) in the first quarter and be flat for the full year.

Excluding fuel, NCC are expected to increase approximately 1% for the first quarter and are expected to be flat to up slightly for the full year. After adjusting for changes in currency, NCC excluding fuel are forecasted to be flat to down slightly for the first quarter and the full year.

Royal Caribbean said that it does not forecast fuel price changes and its cost calculations are based on current at-the-pump prices net of hedging impacts. Based on today's fuel prices Royal Caribbean said that it has included $163 million and $687 million of fuel expense in its first quarter and full year 2010 guidance, respectively.

The Summit, which will be held on board Crown Princess during Valentine's week, February 13-20, will feature a host of themed activities and presentations by the line's Department of Romance members. Designed to celebrate the many aspects of cruising with Princess that can help couples reconnect, these special events will give passengers insight and inspiration on infusing romance into their everyday lives.

The entire Department of Romance will be aboard the special sailing. In addition to current members "Love Boat" captain Gavin MacLeod, "The Bachelorette's" Trista and Ryan Sutter, and destination wedding expert Lisa Light, three new members will join the department. The new love experts are Anna Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post who will be discussing romance etiquette; "The Dating Diva" Dee Frazier of The University of Dating, an authority on finding love at any age; and Princess Cruises comedian Kevin Hughes, who keeps audiences laughing with his comedic and insightful take on relationships.

"Hosting the first-ever Romance Summit seems like the perfect way to celebrate Princess' legacy of romance in a fun, unique way with something for everyone onboard," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises' executive vice president. "It's also the perfect way to introduce the newest members of our Department of Romance. We look forward to starting some lively conversations, as well as provide our passengers with great relationship tips, and a lot of fun."

During the Romance Summit passengers will be treated to an abundance of romantic events, including an opportunity to meet all the Department of Romance members at a group panel discussion, plus attend individual presentations where each member will offer expertise on a particular aspect of love and relationships. Additionally, passengers will enjoy a variety of romance-themed activities, including a group renewal of vows for all couples on the ship and a Valentine's Gala where passengers are invited to dress up in their best red attire for an evening of romantic dining and entertainment.

Throughout the sailing, passengers will enjoy themed food and beverage, entertainment, movies, and daytime activities.

Crown Princess is sailing on a western Caribbean itinerary during the Romance Summit, with calls at Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.56	+ 0.42%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.19	- 2.36%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.85	- 6.09%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Which famous former liner served as James Bond's headquarters in the film "The Man with the Golden Gun"?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
Beginning in March of 1989, Cunard's QE2 was out of service for 72 days. Why was she out of service?

Answer - To celebrate the 130th anniversary of the City of Yokohama a consortium of Japanese companies chartered the QE2 for 72 days from March 27th 1989. She docked alongside the passenger terminal as a central attraction and although she did not go to sea she maintained her status as an ocean liner.
courtesy of Ralph Sackett, Lichfield UK

Cruise News - January 25, 2010

"As part of our $525-million Signature of Excellence program, we've added elegant new staterooms to Prinsendam, as well as expanded the aft pool deck area," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "Prinsendam has one of our most loyal followings so the new, mostly verandah staterooms and other improvements will enrich the guest experience on this much-loved ship even further."

With the addition of 21 staterooms aft, the pool deck expanded with more space and deck chairs for guests to enjoy. A new sea-view bar was created to enhance the ambiance further. Several lounges and other public areas received new carpeting and the Wajang Theatre and Culinary Arts Center were updated with furniture and carpeting in warm, light colors. Other standard maintenance and technical service also took place along with upgrades of laundry and galley equipment.

Fifteen of the new staterooms are deluxe verandah ocean view categories. There are six new standard inside staterooms. As customary with all Prinsendam staterooms, appointments feature Mariner Dream Beds, 250-count linens, recently redesigned closet space, elegant bathrooms with Elemis amenities, flat panel televisions and DVD players and more. Guest capacity increased from 793 to 835.

Designed to explore the remote corners of the world in elegance and style, the ms Prinsendam is Holland America Line's most intimate ship, with the feel of a classic yacht and the spaciousness, amenities and service of a premium cruise ship.

Following the January 13, 70-day South America Explorer Grand Voyage cruise, Prinsendam sails a 54-day Quest of the Argonauts voyage, departing March 24 roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale to the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The ship will sail a leisurely eastbound course across the Atlantic for an extensive Mediterranean exploration with calls at ports in more than 10 countries, including Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Russia, Georgia, Greece and Turkey. The cruise includes overnight stays in Barcelona, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal and Istanbul, Turkey, as well as late-night departures in Athens and Santorini, Greece; and Lisbon, Portugal. Prinsendam will visit Bermuda and New York City before returning to Fort Lauderdale.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Magic will offer a host of features popularized on its sister ship Carnival Dream, including a WaterWorks aqua park, a stunning café/live entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza; Serenity adults-only retreat; spacious, modern facilities for children and teens; and a wide range of stateroom categories. Several innovations unique to the Carnival Magic will be announced in the coming months.

In making the announcement, Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines' president and CEO said, "Making the decision to return to Europe is an indicator of our confidence in the increasing willingness of North Americans to travel internationally as we move toward 2011."

Carnival Magic's 2011 Mediterranean schedule will encompass three seven-day departures, six nine-day cruises, and eight 12-day voyages round-trip from Barcelona May 10 – October 16, 2011. A special one-time nine-day voyage from Venice to Barcelona will operate May 1-10, 2011.

Each of the three itineraries start and end on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which reflects consumers' traditional vacation patterns and provides convenient opportunities for adding a pre- and post-cruise stay.

Seven-day cruises will feature Monte Carlo, Monaco; and Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples and Messina, Italy. Departure dates include July 3, 10 and 17, 2011.

Nine-day cruises will call at Marseilles, France – the line's first call at this charming coastal town – followed by Monte Carlo (excluding the August 26 departure); Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples, and Messina; and Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Voyages will operate June 3 and 24, August 5 and 26, September 16, and October 7, 2011. The special nine-day cruise departing May 1 will visit Dubrovnik, Croatia; Messina, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia), Livorno; and Monte Carlo.

The 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages will feature Monte Carlo or Marseilles; Livorno, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Naples; Dubrovnik (excluding the May 22 departure which will visit Palma de Mallorca); Venice (overnight call) and Messina. These voyages will depart May 10 and 22, June 12, July 24, August 14, September 4 and 25, and October 16, 2011.

On the Carnival Magic's Mediterranean cruises, guests can sample the region's renowned cuisine, experience unique sightseeing opportunities, view stunning architecture and visit centuries-old historical landmarks and museums.

All three itineraries will operate round-trip from Barcelona, a bustling, cosmopolitan city whose modern cruise terminal is considered one of the finest in Europe.

As the line's newest ship, Carnival Magic will offer a host of on-board amenities and facilities, including Ocean Plaza, an indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue with full bar service, a patisserie and a dance floor; Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat offering magnificent sea views; and The Lanai, a wrap-around promenade encircling the ship with cantilevered whirlpools that will extend over the ship's sides.

Carnival Magic will also build upon the line's distinction as the family cruise leader, with dedicated facilities and programming for children in three age groups – Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle "C" (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17) – along with a miniature golf course and an expansive WaterWorks aqua park with multiple water slides and other features.

Extensive formal and casual dining options, including two two-level main dining rooms, an expansive poolside Lido restaurant, an elegant steakhouse serving U.S.D.A. prime dry-aged beef, a sushi bar, and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service, will also be available.

High-tech features aboard the Carnival Magic will include the Fun Hub, a comprehensive intranet portal and shipboard social network, along with ship-wide Wi-Fi access. Health-conscious guests will enjoy a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa featuring a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite and elaborate spa and gymnasium facilities.

Carnival Magic will also feature 1,845 staterooms – the most ever on a Carnival ship – and will offer a wide range of accommodation categories. These include the affordable cove balconies, located on Deck 2 and closer to the water line, and a wide range of staterooms including deluxe ocean views with two-bathrooms, some of which feature five berths.

Seven ships -- Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Noordam, ms Rotterdam, ms Prinsendam, ms Maasdam and ms Ryndam -- will be based in the region with the first voyage departing April 3 on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the final trans-Atlantic sailing departing Nov. 7 on the ms Prinsendam.

"In 2011, we are catering to a broader range of interests as the appeal of cruising Europe continues to grow," said Rick Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "By expanding our cruise opportunities -- both in new ports and varied itineraries -- we expect to entice both first-time and seasoned cruisers."

The 2011 season has something for everyone. Featuring 15 maiden calls and offering overnight visits at 16 diverse ports, it marks the debut of several new European itineraries including two commemorative nine-day historical trans-Atlantic crossings aboard Rotterdam in July.

Two Signature-class ships, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam, will both sail European itineraries during the 2011 season. Eurodam, the line's first Signature-class ship, will start the Europe season with two seven-day Mediterranean sailings before continuing a series of mostly northern Europe itineraries. Nieuw Amsterdam, the newest ship, will sail the popular 12-day Mediterranean Romance, 12-day Tapestry and 12-day Empires itineraries as well as two seven-day Mediterranean cruises mid-season.

Additional round-trip itineraries, which allow time to explore a departure city before or after the cruise, depart from nine European cities -- Tilbury and Dover (London), U.K.; Rome and Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Athens, Greece; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Additionally, the line will offer a round-trip sailing to the continent from Boston, Massachusetts, aboard the Maasdam in July. For those short on time, 18 seven-day sailings provide an array of cruises exploring the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords or the Baltic.

The season also will feature three new itineraries aboard the Ryndam. A 21-day Mediterranean Adventure offers a comprehensive tour of fascinating Mediterranean ports as well as the less-visited Sete, France, and Sardinia, Italy. The 14-day North Cape cruise features a crossing of the Arctic Circle and a sail by the North Cape and Norwegian ports. And an 11-day Canary Island Explorer sailing round-trip Rotterdam visits the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain.

More ambitious cruisers looking to expand their port collections can combine itineraries for a Collectors' Voyage, which range from 14 to 45 days and are perfect for true explorers who seek an in-depth experience at an exceptional value.

CLIA was founded in 1975 to serve the needs of a small, new venture - the transformation of increasingly obsolete maritime transatlantic travel into trend-setting leisure vacationing. The industry's story is one of impressive growth - 118 new ships since 2000, and, since 1980, average annual growth in passengers of 7.4 percent, despite numerous economic downturns and other obstacles.

In 2008/2009, the cruise industry was impacted by many of the same challenges facing all businesses. Fuel prices, H1N1, the stock market crash and continued fluctuations, the housing crisis, corporate restructuring, stimulus plans and bailouts, even the uncertainty of a presidential election and, certainly, declining and fragile consumer confidence. Unlike many other industries, cruising, with an impressive history of recession-resistance, had several advantages. These include vessel mobility and redeployment, ability to quickly adapt to change, effective expense management and, above all, a product with the highest perceived value for money spent. Combined with the excitement of new ships, a proactive travel agency sales network and promotional efforts to create incredible vacation values, CLIA member lines were able to drive consumer demand and operate at full capacity throughout the most challenging months.

"CLIA's member lines and travel agents responded amazingly well to the economic crisis and have put themselves in a very strong position to succeed in 2010," said Terry L. Dale, CLIA's president and CEO. "In many important ways, if you have to have these challenges, cruising is the industry to be in. We have continued high cruise vacation interest and demand and an under-penetrated market of millions who have never cruised before; approximately 80% of Americans have yet to cruise and the opportunity is even greater in Europe and abroad where cruise vacation adoption is growing at an accelerated rate. Statistically, cruising exceeds traveler expectations and first-timers and past cruisers keep coming back. The industry's history of thriving through even the hardest of times gives our guests confidence that they are making a safe and rewarding purchase. And, most important, cruise vacations are perceived by virtually all consumers as very high value when those consumers are seeking value above all else."

Industry Growth and Economic Impact - Despite the economic turmoil of 2009, the cruise industry continued to grow. A total of 13.445 million guests are forecast to have sailed last year (totals through the third quarter, 2009 - 9,999,068 passengers - indicate that forecast is on track), U.S. and Canadian residents accounted for 76.5 percent of guests, with 23.5 percent sourced internationally. Volume of international guests has been growing consistently. In 2000, less than 10% of the guests sailing on CLIA member cruise lines were sourced to international markets. The CLIA fleet (collectively among all 25 member cruise lines) in 2009 sailed at an average occupancy of 104.4 percent, with an average length of cruise of 7.2 days. In short, passenger volume continues to keep pace with capacity.

CLIA forecasts a total of 14.3 million passengers in 2010 - 10.7 million from North America and 3.6 million sourced internationally. This represents a total increase of passengers of 855,000 or 6.4 percent growth.

The industry's growth is also reflected in its economic impact. In 2008, direct spending in goods and services by cruise lines and their passengers totaled $19.07 billion, a 2 percent increase over 2007. Factoring in indirect spending, the total economic impact of the industry on the U.S. economy was $40.2 billion, an increase of six percent. All 50 states were positively impacted. This included the generation of 357,710 jobs paying a total of $16.2 billion in wages and salaries nationwide.

New Ships - After introducing 14 new ships representing a total investment of $4.7 billion in 2009, the CLIA fleet will invest an additional $6.5 billion and welcome 12 new vessels this year. Significantly, the new ships continue to reflect the diversity of ships and cruise experiences available to the traveling public, ranging in capacity from 101 passengers to 5,400 passengers and built for everything from roaming the globe in sheer luxury to sailing the waters of Europe's most famous rivers and the coastlines of North America.

The newest members of the CLIA fleet will include:

• Royal Caribbean International: Allure of the Seas (5,400 passengers)

• Norwegian Cruise Line: Epic (4,200 passengers)

• Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 passengers)

• MSC: MSC Magnifica (2,550 passengers)

• Costa Cruises: Deliziosa (2,260 passengers)

• Holland America Line: Nieuw Amsterdam (2,100 passengers)

• Cunard Line: Queen Elizabeth (2,092 passengers)

• Seabourn Cruise Line: Seabourn Sojourn (450 passengers)

• Avalon Waterways: Felicity and Luminary (138 passengers)

• Pearl Seas Cruises: Pearl Mist (110 passengers)

• American Cruise Line: Independence (101 passengers)

Looking forward, CLIA member lines have 26 new ships on order between 2010 and 2012 - 23 ocean-going vessels and three built for river/coastal cruising. This represents a net increase in capacity of 18 percent, or 53,971 beds.

Industry Trends - At the end of 2009, CLIA surveyed its member lines and member travel agents to get a better picture of their outlook and level of optimism for 2010 and to identify major industry trends. These are some of the findings:

• Travel agents are optimistic about the coming year, with 75.7 percent anticipating an increase in sales and another 11 percent expecting to hold even with 2009. Most agents surveyed looked forward to sales increases of approximately 15 percent.

• Although the cruise selling season spans the entire year, the traditional "Wave Season" (January-March) will continue to be important for cruise sales, according to agents, with 83 percent predicting an increase in booking volume of 10-20 percent.

• Consumers, according to agents, continue to express strong interest in all types of cruising. High interest in contemporary cruising was expressed by 73 percent of clients, followed by premium cruise lines (49.7 percent) and destination/niche cruise products (47 percent). One of the most dramatic findings was the high interest in river cruising by 34 percent of clients.

• Cruising continues to rank number one among consumers for perceived value, vacation interest and, for travel agents, ease in selling.

• The anticipated top cruise destinations for 2010, by volume of sales, according to agents, are: The Caribbean/Bahamas, including eastern Mexico, Alaska, Mediterranean and Greek Islands/Turkey, Europe, Hawaii, Panama Canal, West Coast of Mexico, Bermuda, European rivers and Canada/New England.

• The top "hot" destinations (consumers increased interest) include: The Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska, European rivers, Europe, Hawaii, Panama Canal, West Coast of Mexico and the Bahamas

• While remaining relatively short, the cruise booking window is lengthening. Agents report an average window of 5.04 months (compared to 4.6 months in 2009), with only 30 percent of clients booking less than four months out (compared to 39 percent in 2009).

• Couples dominate cruise demographics although agents report continued growth in families, extended families, and friends traveling together as well. Seniors also continue to be an important segment.

• Fifty-three percent of agents expect to book more new cruisers in 2010 while 37 percent expect their client mix of new and repeat customers to remain constant.

• CLIA travel agents continue to be very optimistic about travel in the next three years, particularly cruise travel - 71.1 percent describe themselves as "very or extremely optimistic."

• CLIA training remains extremely important for member agents. Eighty-eight percent have taken CLIA training; almost 70 percent are currently enrolled in some form of CLIA education, and 87.2 percent say training is important. CLIA member lines, meanwhile, identify a number of trends that will help define cruising in 2010:

• Strong interest in group and affinity travel (for some lines more than 40 percent of business)

• Popularity of theme cruises, notably music, food and wine cruises

• Some lines are increasing their line-up of onboard speakers for enhanced enrichment programs

• Cruise lines expect baby boomers and repeat cruisers to be the biggest growth markets

• Historical and cultural shore excursions tend to be the most popular

• Shipboard spas continue to attract cruisers, with some lines reporting use by 40-50 percent of passengers

• New green, environment-friendly shipboard technologies being utilized, such as solar power, advanced water treatment systems, Alternative Maritime Power, fuel conservation, innovative hull treatments and others

It is also worth noting that many CLIA member lines have plans in place to boost marketing efforts for 2010 to ensure continued demand, including taking full advantage of social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

CLIA travel agents agree with member lines that consumers have much to look forward to in 2010. In addition to new ships of every size and description, these are some of the innovations that are guaranteed to generate strong interest among vacationers:

• New shipboard amenities and facilities such as themed "neighborhoods," full-sized waterparks, adults-only areas, comedy clubs, more and more dining choices and a greater choice of accommodations

• Expanded and diversified shore excursions, including private excursions

• Incentives to book in advance, such as gratuity packages and discounts

• Approximately 30 domestic ports of embarkation mean that half the residents of the United States are now within driving distance of cruises sailing to all parts of the world, eliminating the cost and inconvenience of flying

"Vacations are needed now more than ever; everyone needs the time and space to relax and revitalize. Nothing makes that easier than a cruise and we are confident that with new ships and itineraries, innovative shipboard experiences and incredible value, 2010 will be a great year for cruising," Dale said.

The voluntary reporting system helps NOAA track weather patterns in many areas of the world where the organization doesn't have direct access to local information. The ships measure air temperature, humidity, wind direction and strength, sea waves and swells. Ships send information at a minimum of every six hours when at sea to a database which is forwarded to NOAA.

"As long-time participants in this important program, we're happy that our fleet was able to provide so much data this year to help with worldwide weather forecasting," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. "With Princess ships sailing around the globe to all seven continents, we're in the unique position to be able to take weather readings in a multitude of destinations where NOAA might not otherwise be able to get information."

This data, which is gathered not only from cruise ships, but from all types of ships worldwide, is used to help NOAA track and forecast weather patterns around the world.

The board declared a dividend of $0.10 per share and approved a record date of February 19, 2010, and a payment date of March 12, 2010.

"Resuming the quarterly dividend demonstrates our confidence in the earnings power of our global cruise brands despite the current economic environment. In addition, there has been a notable improvement in our access to the capital markets since the suspension was announced at the height of the financial crisis. Initiating the dividend at this level allows us to begin to return cash to shareholders at the peak of our capital expenditure program in 2010 and still maintain our strong balance sheet and solid investment grade credit rating. We are committed to returning cash to shareholders and expect to grow the dividend as our capital investment program slows beyond 2010 leading to significant free cash flow," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO.

Holders of Carnival Corporation common stock and Carnival plc ADSs will receive the dividend payable in U.S. dollars. The dividend for Carnival plc ordinary shares will be payable in U.S. dollars or sterling. In the absence of instructions or elections to the contrary, holders of Carnival plc ordinary shares will automatically receive the dividend in sterling.

Dividends payable in sterling will be converted from U.S. dollars at the exchange rate quoted by the Bank of England in London at 12 noon on March 1, 2010. Holders of Carnival plc ordinary shares wishing to receive their dividend in U.S. dollars or participate in the Carnival plc Dividend Reinvestment Plan must elect to do so by February 19, 2010.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.56	+ 0.42%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.19	- 2.36%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.85	- 6.09%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
Beginning in March of 1989, Cunard's QE2 was out of service for 72 days. Why was she out of service?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
What was the last cruise ship completed for the Home Lines and what happened to her?

Answer - The last ship completed for Home Lines was Homeric completed in 1986 in Papenburg. She later was stretched and and became Westerdam for Holland America Lines. She now sails as Costa Europa for Costa Lines.
courtesy of Hugh Chandler

Cruise News - January 18, 2010

"The effect of the earthquake on Haiti has been catastrophic, leaving the country in need of not only immediate support, but assistance in their long-term recovery," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Royal Caribbean wants to do its part to help out not only the general response, but also our hundreds of Haitian employees and their families through this disaster."

"In addition to our financial contribution, Royal Caribbean will continue to provide economic support through the continuous business we bring to Labadee," Fain added.

Leslie Voltaire, Special Envoy of the government of Haiti to the United Nations said, "Given the terrible economic and social challenges we now face in Haiti, we welcome the continuation of the positive economic benefits that the cruise ship calls to Labadee contribute to our country."

The benefits start with Royal Caribbean International's Independence of the Seas' call today to Labadee, Haiti, which includes much needed supplies for the country. The supplies were loaded on the ship during its call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and include items such as rice, dried beans, powdered milk, water and canned goods. In addition, 100 percent of the company's net revenue from the destination will be contributed to the relief effort.

In the next two weeks, the following ships are scheduled to call on Labadee with additional supplies: Navigator of the Seas on Monday, January 18; Liberty of the Seas on Tuesday, January 19; and Celebrity Solstice on Friday, January 22. When the supplies arrive in Labadee, they will be transported to an offsite location to be distributed by Food for the Poor, a long time partner of Royal Caribbean in Haiti.

In addition to working with Food for the Poor to distribute relief supplies, guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will be able to make a donation to Food for the Poor's Haiti Relief Fund, via a charge to their onboard account. Guests who would like to contribute immediately can visit www.foodforthepoor.org/royalcaribbean to make a donation. Royal Caribbean also plans to use a portion of the $1 million donation to augment the company's Crew Relief Fund, which can be drawn on by any of the company's more than 200 Haitian crew members for assistance, as well as to match employee contributions to the partner organizations.

Royal Caribbean's decision to continue calling at Labadee while rescue and recovery operations continue 85 miles south in Port-Au-Prince has sparked strong debate across the Internet, including our own CruiseTalk forum. To join in the conversation visit CruiseTalk.

The funds will be forwarded to several different international organizations coordinating relief efforts within the country.

"We are saddened by this tragedy, one of the worst natural disasters of our lifetime and we are deeply concerned for the people of Haiti and hope that this donation will help provide much-needed assistance," said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by this catastrophe," he added.

Carnival Corporation & plc's donation has been earmarked for the following relief organizations: UNICEF, the University of Miami's Project Medishare, American Red Cross, and Save the Children.

The $5 million donation includes a large corporate contribution along with monies raised from a variety of fundraising efforts coordinated by Carnival Corporation & plc's cruise brands, both in their offices in North America, Europe and Australia and throughout the fleet.

The company is also working with the Miami HEAT on a coordinated relief effort for collecting various emergency supplies that are being shipped and distributed to Haiti by the University of Miami's Project Medishare.

"Historically, the cruise industry has not embraced the large number of people who enjoy traveling solo," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "We are breaking the mold of traditional cruising once again by offering a stateroom designed and priced specifically for solo travelers, making cruising a more attractive travel option. We invite all solo travelers - whether they are first-time cruisers or cruising veterans -- to sail on our incredible new Freestyle Cruising ship, Norwegian Epic."

The Studios on Norwegian Epic are a private key-card access complex on two decks consisting of 128 staterooms and the Studio Lounge. This unique and thoughtfully designed concept provides comfort and convenience for the solo traveler. Each Studio stateroom, at approximately 100 square feet of living space, features a contemporary design with a full-size bed and separate areas for the bathroom, sink and shower. In addition, guests in the Studios have private access to the exclusive Studio Lounge. Here, guests can grab a cup of coffee in the morning, meet up with fellow cruisers and plan their day or relax with a drink in the evening. Since many of the Studio staterooms are connecting, there is also the opportunity for friends to travel together while giving each their own private space. A live interactive web event discussing the Studios and other Norwegian Epic news will take place today at 5 pm ET. To register for the web event, click here.

World-class entertainment is Norwegian Epic's hallmark. For the first time at sea, Blue Man Group will perform their exhilarating fusion of comedy, theatrics and paint, exclusively on Norwegian Epic. In the only "big top" at sea, Cirque Dreams and Dinner will present a one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical dining experience with music, mayhem and acrobatic imagination. Legends in Concert, the original and world's greatest live tribute show, will be featured for the first time at sea in more than a decade on Norwegian Epic, along with The Second City improvisational comedy and Howl at the Moon, the world's greatest rock 'n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation.

Based on the itinerary, guests can see wonders such as the Athenian Acropolis and the mysterious pyramids of Giza, or set sail on a roundtrip exploration from the Eternal City of Rome.

"The appealing blend of fascinating ports and overnight stays in historic Mediterranean cities on these Queen Victoria voyages truly epitomizes the new golden age of ocean travel," said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line. "We're pleased to make these voyages even more compelling with this attractive stateroom offer."

Voyages include the Mediterranean Odyssey, departing 7 October from Venice (overnight visit) and calling on Dubrovnik, Katakolon, Mykonos, Istanbul, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Messina (Sicily), Rome (Civitavecchia), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Marseille and arriving into Barcelona; Pearls of the Adriatic, departing from Barcelona on 19 October, with stops in Monte Carlo, Livorno, Naples, La Goulette, Valletta, Athens, Katakolon, Dubrovnik and Venice (overnight visit); and Ancient Treasures, departing roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia) on 12 November and visiting Messina, Valletta, Port Said, Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Athens and Naples.

Designed in grand Cunard tradition, Queen Victoria is the second largest Cunarder ever built, weighing in at 90,000 gross tons. Having debuted in December 2007, she captured the world stage in a way few ships ever do - becoming one of the most fêted ships to be introduced in recent years and quickly establishing herself in the Cunard fleet. Every inch of the 2,000-passenger liner is infused with a sense of luxury and tradition, from the Royal Court Theatre, which includes the first private viewing boxes at sea, to the signature two-storey library with a spiral staircase and nearly 6,000 volumes.

Set to debut in May 2011, the 3,690-passenger vessel will be the second in the line's Dream-class series and will offer a number of amenities and facilities popularized on the Carnival Dream – a sprawling water park, an Ocean Plaza café/entertainment venue and a wrap-around outdoor promenade – along with some new and exciting features to be announced in the near future.

In addition to the Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, the line has a third Dream-class ship set to debut in 2012.

Holland America's schedule features eight ships offering 149 total departures from May 3 through September 24, 2010. The Alaskan Adventurer cruises will sail roundtrip from Seattle on flagship ms Amsterdam and call at Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak for the first time. Seven-day cruises will sail from Seattle, Vancouver and Seward.

"Drawing on more than 60 years of Alaska experience, Holland America Line has introduced this new 14-day Alaskan Adventurer itinerary to expand guests' cruising options," said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales, and guest programs. "It is a major addition to our 2010 Alaska cruise schedule, which continues to offer the widest selection of seven-day itineraries and departures of any cruise line in Alaska."

Holland America is featuring a wide range of seven-day cruises, both roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver and one-way between Vancouver and Seward. As a longtime tour operator, Holland America continues to be awarded the most permit entries of any major cruise line to Glacier Bay, a 65-mile long fjord with spectacular tidewater glaciers.

"Holland America's itineraries also continue to feature the best glacier viewing," said Meadows. "Every cruise visits massive tidewater glaciers."

Many roundtrip Seattle cruises feature Alaska's immense Hubbard Glacier in Yakutat Bay, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. Some cruises visit College Fjord with 10 large tidewater and valley glaciers named after Ivy League colleges. Others sail by the twin Sawyer Glaciers in the narrow, 26-mile Tracy Arm fjord.

Alaska Travel Guides sail on board every Holland America ship in Alaska and share their knowledge of local culture, history, art and flora and fauna with guests. In addition to the Alaska Travel Guides, Native interpreters board the ships in Glacier Bay and by Hubbard Glacier to explain the origins of the Huna and Yakutat people.

14-day Alaskan Adventurer Cruises - The 1,380-guest Amsterdam will homeport in Seattle to sail the 14-day Alaskan Adventurer cruises departing roundtrip May 17 through September 6, 2010. The Amsterdam will be the first cruise ship of a major cruise line to call in Anchorage, providing guests with a full day and evening in Alaska's major city.

The flagship will also call at the new ports of Homer and Kodiak. Homer features a breathtaking location at the tip of the Kenai Peninsula, the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and the famous Homer Spit in Kachemak Bay. Kodiak, home of the famed Kodiak bear, reflects both 7,500 years of native Alutiiq heritage and Russian fur trading influence since 1792 as the first capital of Russian America.

The Amsterdam's leisurely itinerary features a double glacier experience with visits to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. One departure on July 12 will visit the twin Sawyer Glaciers in picturesque Tracy Arm fjord along with Hubbard Glacier. Ports of call include Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Juneau and Victoria, BC.

Alaskan Explorer Cruises - Four ships will be home-ported in Seattle in 2010, sailing a total of 63 seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises roundtrip. The Amsterdam opens the season with two seven-day Alaskan Explorer cruises departing May 3 and 10 before shifting to the new 14-day itinerary.

From May 9 through September 24, the 1,432-guest ms Zaandam departs Fridays, 1,316-guest ms Rotterdam departs Saturdays and the 1,918-guest, Vista-class ms Oosterdam departs Sundays. The Zaandam and Rotterdam highlight the Hubbard Glacier and the Oosterdam showcases Glacier Bay. All Alaskan Explorer cruises call at the historic ports of Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, BC, and feature scenic cruising of the Inside Passage and Vancouver Island.

Inside Passage and Glacier Discovery Cruises - Four ships will be home-ported in Vancouver, two of them sailing seven-day Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruises roundtrip. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) sail 39 voyages from May 8 through September 18. They visit Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and Tracy Arm fjord.

The 1,270-guest ms Ryndam and the 1,258-guest ms Statendam will offer two more sailings of the Inside Passage—with port and glacier variations—September 12 and 19 to conclude the season.

The Ryndam and Statendam also sail 36 seven-day Glacier Discovery cruises between Vancouver and Seward and reverse with Sunday departures May 9 through September 12. From Vancouver, the northbound itinerary features Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord in Prince William Sound. The southbound route from Seward calls at Haines in place of Skagway.

The Glacier Discovery and Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruises are often combined with a land tour to create a comprehensive CruiseTour. A diverse selection of 31 CruiseTours from 11 to 20 days may include visits to Denali National Park, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, the Arctic and the Yukon Territory. Many CruiseTours offer two-days at Denali—"Double Denali"—to maximize wildlife and Mt. McKinley viewing.

Company	Today's Closing Price	Change (since last week)
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL)	33.42	+ 4.24%%
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)	25.80	+ 0.85%
Star Cruises (HKSE:0678.HK)	1.97	- 3.55%

Cruise News Trivia Question:
What was the last cruise ship completed for the Home Lines and what happened to her?

Answer - Will be published in next week's column along with the name of the first person to submit the correct answer. Send your answer to cruise2008@travelpage.com

Last Week's Question
Cunard's Queen Mary 2 carries a distictive item that was originally installed on board the original Queen Mary which is now serving as a hotel in Long Beach, California. What is this distinctive item?

Answer -The QM2 carries the horn from the second funnel of the original Queen Mary, now in Long Beach, CA.
courtesy of Bill Cwiklo